Residents react to flight path proposals

RESIDENTS from Hampton-in-Arden have responded angrily to the first roadshow held by Birmingham Airport to discuss proposed changes to flight paths.

The event in the village on Monday night was criticised by the village's parish council.

They said one of their major concerns is the proposal to get rid of the Hampton Turn - a 20 degree right turn one mile from the end of the runway which was introduced to reduce the impact of noise.

A spokesman for Hampton-in-Arden Parish Council said: "We understand that some local pilots have said that it should be easier to fly the Hampton Turn with the employment of the more accurate RNAV navigation system whereby aircraft can fly on any designed flight path with greater accuracy.

"However, Birmingham Airport have said that this would be a difficult manoeuvre because of the heavier aircraft using the extended runway.

"We also understand that the Civil Aviation Authority have no objection for the Hampton Turn to continue if they conform to their requirements which the airport appear to be reluctant to do. We are, therefore, asking for answers to this conflict."

The spokesman added that villagers would liked to have seen a question and answer session which would have allowed for more discussion.

He added: "Many parishioners were extremely disappointed with the limited opportunity for dialogue at this consultation roadshow between themselves and representatives from Birmingham Airport; they also regret that the various wall maps, representing both the proposed and present flight paths, were almost unintelligible – they were drawn in ordnance survey form rather than being in a more comprehensible schematic form."

Another roadshow is taking place at Fentham Hall in Hampton-in-Arden on February 8 from 10am until noon.

RESIDENTS in Berkswell also had their first look at the proposed changes to flight paths at Birmingham Airport.

Representatives from the airport were on hand to discuss the plans at the roadshow on Tuesday (January 15) which was among the first of several taking place in villages surrounding the airport.

Another roadshow will be held at The Reading Room on January 30 from 7pm until 9pm.

But Knowle Society's Leighton Jones said the organisation would need a little time to study the consultation documents properly before commenting.

In the meantime he added: "We recognise the importance of the airport to the economy of the area but are obviously keen to see the peace of those who live near it and under the flight paths protected as far as that is possible."

"It does look as if the changes to the take-off routes, particularly the tightening of the allowable variation from the centre line, will minimise the impact on the residents of Knowle of the expected increase in traffic over the next 10 years.

"In other words, it looks as if things will not improve, but will not be as bad as they could have been.

"We will be very glad if that turns out to be the case."

VILLAGERS in Catherine de Barnes were the first to take part in the consulation on Monday (January 14).

Experts from the airport were on-hand to discuss the proposed flight path changes, which will see planes move further away from the village which has been at the centre of second runway and runway extension talks over the years.

"I'm obviously delighted that planes will be further away from the village, but feel for the people of Hampton who are set to lose out," said one villager.

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Peter Clark looks over the plans in Catherine de Barnes. 02.013.041.sol.nc1